Rep. Sandy Bartlett

Maddy summaryHB 661 grants collective bargaining rights to specific faculty at Maryland's public higher education institutions, including full-time, part-time, and adjunct employees with academic responsibilities (such as teachers, researchers, and department heads) at the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. It establishes separate bargaining units for faculty at each institution but allows these units to voluntarily combine into a single bargaining unit. The bill excludes officers, supervisors, confidential employees, and student employees from coverage. This legislation amends Maryland’s labor laws to formally define "faculty" and create a framework for collective bargaining negotiations over wages, hours, and working conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 307 requires boat operators involved in collisions causing injury or death to stay at the scene, provide assistance to those affected, and share their name and vessel details. It establishes fines up to $10,000 or jail time (up to 10 years) for leaving without meeting these duties, with harsher penalties if the operator knew injury or death might occur. Operators must report serious accidents (causing death, injury, or $2,000+ property damage) within 48 hours or 10 days, depending on severity. This applies to all vessels operating in Maryland waters and modifies existing boating safety laws.

Maddy summaryHB 312 modifies Maryland's rules for dismissing criminal charges against defendants found incompetent to stand trial. It directly affects victims of first-degree murder (under §2-201) and sexually assaultive behavior (under §10-923) by allowing victims or their representatives to petition a court to extend the 10-year dismissal deadline for these specific charges. The bill adds a new process where courts must consider victim petitions for extensions beyond the standard time limits, while still requiring advance notice to victims before dismissal. This change updates existing law (Article 3-107 of the Criminal Procedure code) to give victims a formal role in extending case timelines. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 190 requires Maryland’s Parole Commission to explicitly consider an incarcerated person’s age when evaluating parole eligibility, alongside existing factors like crime circumstances and public safety. It revises medical parole rules to mandate independent medical evaluations for inmates with chronic debilitation, terminal illness, or conditions preventing them from posing a danger to society. The bill also adds new procedures for the Commission to assess requests, including potential in-person meetings with inmates under specific medical circumstances. This directly affects elderly or severely medically compromised incarcerated individuals who may qualify for earlier parole under revised criteria. The law amends Maryland’s Correctional Services Code to formalize these changes in parole evaluation standards.

Maddy summaryHB 311 repeals the requirement for the Governor to approve medical parole decisions for incarcerated individuals serving life sentences. It directly affects people in Maryland prisons who have severe, chronic medical conditions making them physically incapable of posing a safety risk. The key change removes the Governor’s 180-day review period (previously required under Section 7-309(i)), allowing the Maryland Parole Commission to make final decisions on medical parole without gubernatorial oversight. The bill updates the process so the Commission’s approval becomes effective immediately, streamlining release for eligible individuals while maintaining existing medical evaluation and safety review standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1050 requires petitioners seeking domestic violence protective orders in Maryland to provide specific, detailed information about the respondent's firearms when filing their petition. This directly affects domestic violence victims and their legal representatives who must now include details like firearm make/model, location, access points (e.g., car, home), and the respondent’s habits regarding firearms. Key provisions mandate petitioners disclose the respondent’s firearm possession status, location of weapons, whether firearms are kept in a vehicle (including license plate), and related habits like hunting or shooting range visits. The bill amends existing family law statutes to integrate these requirements into the petition process, without changing when firearms must be surrendered. It aims to improve court awareness of firearm risks during domestic violence cases.

Maddy summaryHB 308 amends Maryland's criminal law to create an exception allowing retired law enforcement officials to carry concealed firearms on private property under specific conditions. The bill directly affects retired officers (in "good standing" from state, local, or federal agencies) who possess a valid permit or are authorized under state law to carry a concealed handgun. Key provisions require retired officers to visibly display their badge/credential, keep firearms concealed under clothing, and obtain owner permission to enter dwellings (homes). This exception does not apply to general property access but specifically modifies trespassing rules for entering homes with firearms. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 545 automates the removal of certain criminal records from public view in Maryland. It directly affects individuals with eligible cases involving cannabis possession (with 3+ years since case resolution) or specific misdemeanors (with 7+ years since resolution, excluding domestic violence or assault charges). The bill establishes a new process where the Judiciary identifies eligible cases monthly starting August 2027, then electronically notifies the Department of Public Safety to automatically remove those records within 30 days. This replaces a previous deadline and creates a permanent, systematic approach for expungement without requiring individuals to file separate requests.

Maddy summaryHB 499 (Expungement Reform Act of 2025) changes Maryland’s expungement process to make it easier for people with certain misdemeanor convictions to clear their records. It reduces waiting periods after completing a sentence (removing the previous 3-year limit for some offenses), expands eligibility to include more misdemeanor convictions, and requires courts to confirm restitution payments are made or unpayable before expungement. The bill also prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing expunged records. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible misdemeanor convictions who have completed their sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 1107 limits when incarcerated minors in Maryland can be placed in restrictive housing (like solitary confinement). It prohibits using restrictive housing for discipline, punishment, staff convenience, or retaliation, and requires facilities to prove an immediate safety risk exists with no other options. The bill mandates mental health screenings within one hour of placement, restricts time in restrictive housing to a maximum of six hours, and requires facilities to develop plans for moving minors back to general population or providing alternative programming. It also allows minors to request placement in restrictive housing and revoke that request at any time, with immediate return to general population if withdrawn. This directly affects minors in juvenile correctional facilities and the Department of Juvenile Services.